Biography
Rahele Jomepour Bell is a multi-award-winning Iranian-American illustrator, author, and educator whose work is celebrated for its rich textures, emotional depth, and vibrant storytelling. Originally from Iran, she moved to the United States 15 years ago to pursue her passion for visual storytelling and eventually earned an MFA in Integrated Visual Arts from Iowa State University. Her unique artistic process, a blend of hand-painted textures and digital assembly, is influenced by her heritage and childhood memories of her grandmother’s storytelling. This distinctive style has earned her numerous prestigious honors, including the Portfolio Grand Prize at the SCBWI National Conference, the 2023 Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustration Exhibition winner, and a Gold Award from the SILA Illustration West competition.
With over 20 picture books published internationally, Rahele has illustrated acclaimed titles such as Our Favorite Day of the Year, To Change a Planet, and her upcoming 2026 release, Where I Grew. Beyond her work in publishing, she is a dedicated educator serving as an Assistant Professor of Illustration at the Kansas City Art Institute, where she explores the intersection of traditional craft and modern technology. Through her art and teaching, Rahele remains a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusive storytelling, aiming to create worlds that invite children to see themselves and their cultures reflected on the page. She currently lives and creates in the Kansas City area with her husband and daughter.
